Types of Carriers: Part 3

Past photo of Rhianna's wraps, there have been huge changes since this was taken.

This post is really about our passion, so I will go into more detail and regale you with loads of photos. There is so much variation in wraps that I could probably go on for days, but I will try to be concise and not drone on and on. I will start us off where a lot of people start, stretchy wraps.

Stretchy Wraps:

Rhianna's son Elias first time being wrapped (ON ME!!)

There is some variation in stretchy wraps, I will start with what Rhianna and I used. We used a form of stretchy that is one long piece of fabric, 5.5m. The fabric has stretch in all directions, giving you the ease to pop your baby in and out and leave the wrap on. This is particularly convenient in the early days, with all the diaper changes and feedings (although you can feed right in the wrap if you are breast feeding, but that takes some skills). There are a few tying options and it is best to find a Youtube video and follow along. Basically, the fabric is wrapped around you to create an 'X' on your torso and a pocket that goes over the 'X'. The baby is placed in the middle of the 'X', and the pocket is pulled over their body for added support. 

This wrap is ideal for newborns, but the weight of a 15lbs+ baby can make it have too much bounce and it will lose some comfort.

It is important to note that these wraps used to be suggested for back carries, but that has been changed.  It is not safe to use a stretchy for a back carry, because of the stretch in all directions, the child could potentially lean back and fall out of the wrap. Yikes!

Newborn Miles in a stretchy, he was always awake!

Some Brands:
http://www.mobywrap.com/mw/Home.htm
http://store.bobafamily.com/baby-wrap/

There is another form of stretchy which is a hybrid, which doesn't stretch in all directions. These wraps give you the ease of "poppability", but offer you the security to do back carries. 

Brand: http://www.wrapsodybaby.com/shop/stretch.php

The last form of stretchy doesn't involve wrapping at all. This sling is made up of two loops of strechy fabric (very similar in design to a pouch sling), and one longer straight piece. The loops are crossed over your body as two sashes creating a 'X', the baby is put in the 'X' and the straight piece is then tied around the two of you. These slings must be the right size for you or it won't be tight enough to be worn safely.
This has a similar life span to a stretchy wrap, but some users say slightly less because you can only tighten it so much because of the loops of fabric. This non-wrapping stretchy is also unsuitable for back carries.

Some Brands:
http://www.babyktan.com/
http://www.babybuddha.ca/#

Woven Wraps:

 Miles in Didymos Aqua Pfau Size 5

Woven wraps come in many different sizes, colours, fibre content and weaves. Once a babywearer decides to make the jump to woven wraps, there is a very high learning curve. First off you have to learn some lingo (which will be featured in our next post), there are abbreviations about names of specific wraps, specific carries, and ways of buy/sell/trading. Definitely overwhelming, but in my opinion well worth the effort! Nothing parallels the comfort of a woven wrap.

My husband Jesse wrapping Miles in Storchenwiege Leo B&W Size 5

Woven wraps come in different sizes (sizes 1-8 and beyond) but your typical sizes are size 2-7. Different sizes are better for different styles of carries and different body types. Short wraps are great for toddlers, hip carries or quick wraps and for rainy days. Longer wraps are great for lengthy walks or extended periods of time. 

But where to start? Well every babywearer has a base size, mine personally is a size 4, because I am extra tiny, but there is a lot of range. Most peoples' base is a size 6. One of the major wrap companies, Didymos, has a great sizing chart. It is based on clothing sizes and what kind of carry you would like to do with your child, a "base" size is taken from the measurement of "Double Hammock", the last carry in the chart. 

http://www.didymos.de/en/DIDYMagazine/Baby-Carriers/Groessen/

This is a photo of a "Double Hammock" carry, in progress though. 

Miles in Didymos Orient size 3

Lengths of woven wrap sizes:

size 2 -  2.7 meters = 8.86 feet = 102.36 inches

size 3 -  3.1 meters = 10.17 feet = 122.05 inches

size 4 -  3.6 meters = 11.81 feet  = 141.73 inches

size 5 -  4.2 meters = 13.78 feet = 165 inches

size 6 -  4.6 meters = 15.09 feet = 181.10 inches

size 7 -  5.2 meters = 17.06 feet = 204.72 inches

size 8 – 5.60 meters = 18.37 feet = 220.47 inches

Rhianna with Elias in Diva Milano Merletti Emineza Size 6

Once you learn your base size, then comes buying a wrap. There are an abundance of woven wrap companies out there, all offering different things. Some create amazing products and some don't. But from what I have learned from experience is for a first wrap, you should buy used. You see wraps take some "breaking in" at first. Wraps vary in softness and moldablity when new. Buying a well used wrap saves you three things, it saves you the work of breaking in the wrap (tips on this will be detailed in a later post), saves you the stress of wrapping with a stiff cardboard wrap (trust me it is not easy) and saves you money. There are many online swaps that you can buy a used wrap off of, but again I must warn you it can be overwhelming.

This is a link to thebabywearer.com: you must register to be member to gain access to the For Sale or Trade boards. But this is a gentle community of Mums who want to help foster babywearing.
http://www.thebabywearer.com/index.php

This is the link to the large Facebook Swap: with close to 20,000 members there is a lot to choose from
https://www.facebook.com/groups/196221090408274/

There are a few others out there. But my suggestion before you buy, search out your local babywearing group, there are lots of Facebook groups. These groups often have meet ups and there will be Mums there who will let you try out a wrap AND give you a lesson. Plus if there is a really nice Mum in the group you might even get to borrow a wrap for a while. The babywearing community is a really wonderful thing and I strongly suggest making connections!

Some of our local babywearing group out for a walk!

Really wrapping is all about perseverance. Persevere through the daunting lingo, learning to tie the wraps and you will be in babywearing heaven. Man, I could wear Miles hours on end, which I never thought possible until I found wrapping. It just takes a little commitment and some help, I strongly suggest joining thebabywearer.com, there is a great community of Mums out there to help you, just waiting for you to ask.


Some great links to help you on your babywearing journey:
Forums:
http://www.thebabywearer.com/
http://www.naturalmamas.co.uk/
Youtube Channels: These Mums know their stuff and explain the carries so well!
http://www.youtube.com/user/BabywearingFaith/videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/wrappingrachel

Miles in Oscha Starry Night Vespers Size 6